We are excited to announce the winners of the ‘Great Active Rake Off’! This competition, launched two months ago, aimed to encourage our residential and hospital services to transform their outdoor spaces, while also encouraging collaboration and teamwork among colleagues, residents, patients, families, friends, and carers. The goal was to create beautiful areas for everyone to enjoy during the summer months and beyond. Each winning service has received a monetary prize to spend on their service as they wish.
Last week, the winners and runners-up were selected from the outstanding finalists. We were amazed by the transformations! It was heart-warming to see patients and residents participating in gardening activities, shopping for flowers, planting borders, creating kitchen gardens, painting pebbles, and enjoying their new outdoor spaces.
For the past two months, we have followed the progress of all participating services on, our internal colleague app, ECHO’s dedicated Rake Off photo wall. This wall showcased all the incredible efforts and a healthy dose of competition across the organisation, too.
Announcing our winners!
Overall winner: Oswald House, our mental health residential service in Lancashire
The team transformed a tired, dark courtyard into a vibrant tropical haven.
Hospitals
Winner: Frenchay Brain Injury Rehabilitation Centre in Bristol
The team created ‘the Chestnut Garden’, a sensory eco-space with solar-powered water features, lights, floral displays, a herb garden, accessible seating, and decorations made by patients.
Runner-up: Ivetsey Bank Hospital, our child and adolescent mental health service (CAMHS) in Staffordshire
They developed a superb edible and sensory garden, with young people planting fruit and vegetables.
Large services
Winner: Bethany House and Bethany Lodge, our residential services in Kent
The team involved their residents in transforming their front patio into a welcoming, sensory space bursting with colour.
Runner-up: Hunters Moor, our neurological rehabilitation service in Birmingham
Hunters Moor converted wasteland into a mindfulness garden with homegrown tomato plants, an olive tree, and strawberries.
Medium-sized services
Winner: Kibblesworth, our neurological rehabilitation service in Gateshead
Colleagues, along with residents, created a colourful space with ornaments, planters, and plants that sparkle under night lights.
Winner: Mayfield Road, our residential service for adults with learning disabilities in Surrey
The team used visual aids to bring their ideas to life, creating a haven with a giant inflatable pool, sensory toys, a volleyball net, and a sunny sitting area.
Winner: Park House, our neurological rehabilitation service in Bedfordshire
They transformed an overgrown garden into a tropical explosion of colour with new planters, borders, and smart paving.
Runner-up: Kingly Croft, our neurological rehabilitation service in Leicestershire
The team cleared wild borders and created a garden with a pretty border and accessible walkway.
Small services
Winner: Granville Lodge, our children’s complex care service in Hartlepool
Granville Lodge created a whimsical garden full of adventure with water features, mirrors, butterflies, and toadstools.
Runner-up: Blackburn Road, our mental health residential servce in Lancashire
The team created a bright, happy place with handmade and painted solar-lit wall art, hand-painted pebbles, veg boxes, upcycled planters, bird boxes, and murals.
Andrew Caine, Hospital Director at runners-up Ivetsey Bank Hospital, said:
“I am exceptionally proud that we were runners up in the ‘Great British Rake Off’ competition. We really embraced it and it was a great way for young people and staff to work together on a project from start to finish.
“We look forward to deciding what we would like to spend the money on, initial thoughts from our young people is a ‘crazy golf’ course!”
Congratulations to all participants and winners!
A total of 35 services participated in the competition, and we are proud of all the participants. Over the last 12 months, we have invested significantly in our estate, aiming to create clean, pretty, welcoming spaces for our patients, residents, and tenants, to enjoy. We hope the enthusiasm for gardening will continue, and these beautiful spaces will be maintained for years to come!
